Bathtub hanger



June 12, 1934.- V 1 r NELSON 1,962,784

BATHTUB HANGER Filed Jan. 19, 1935 INVENTOR @Vctor d. Naf/15cm ATTORNEYS Patented June 12, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT, .OFFICE 6 Claims.

My present invention relates to the art of plumbing accessories and more particularly to a bath tub hanger.

In all modern dwelling construction it is now customary to use bath tubs, trays and basins of the so called built in type. By this is meant a bath tub or other xture which blends into the walls and floors of the room. In the case of bath tubs, particularly, it is usually most de- 10 sirable to have the wall covering slightly overlap the upper rim of the bath tub to the end that water from the showers and the like that may be thrown on the wall will run down the same and drain into the bath tub. Then it has been found desirable that means be employed which will assure that there will be no leakage between the wall covering and the bath tub margin.

In keeping with this form of design it has been found necessary to use a bath tub which is not supported on the usual four feet but one which will be supported by shelves formed on the upper margin of the tub. This new design normally has one side extending down to the oor altho there are many installations of the so-called corner tub in which a side and one end may extend down to the floor. With such construction it becomes quite a problem to adequately support the tub. This is usually arranged by cutting vertical posts which exactly fill in the distance from the bath tub ledge to the oor. Now fitting a number of these shores so as to equally distribute the rather heavy weight of the tub over the entire floor surface calls for very careful fitting of the shores to the end that one will not take an excessive amount of the load. This requires frequent fitting and in order to make these ttings it is necessary to pull the tub back from its final position and as the tub is very heavy and unwieldly this entails considerable loss of time for installation of the same. It is one of the purposes of my present invention to do away entirely with all this fitting.

It has been found in certain installations, particularly where the corner type of tub is used and most particularly where the pier pattern tubs are installed, that there is quite a tendency for the weight of the tub to cause the same to cant and in so doing lift the wall edge of the tub olf the supporting shores. It is one of the purposes of my present invention to provide means for engaging the upper surface of the tub to the end that this canting cannot take place. y

It is a well known fact that after a building has been completed and probably most particularly in the case of multi-story structures such as hotels and apartment houses that there is a good deal of settling and normally the floors settle more than the walls, in that they have a chance to deflect the floor beam whereas the o walls themselves are supported by vertical members which are enabled to better support the load. This causes the tub to tend to draw away slightly from the wall, that is go down while the wall stands in its normal position. When this occurs a gap is produced between the tub and the wall and if by chance the wall is bonded in any manner to the tub support members the result in any event is that water works in the space provided by the displacement of the tub which will invariably cause cracking of the plaster or loosening of the tile if tile wall covering is used. With my present device it is intended that the tub will be held securely to the wall foundation so that there can be no displacement between the two. This prevents not only the necessity of replacing the wall surface due to cracking and the like, it also prevents water running down behind the tub and ruining the ceilings and walls below the bath tub. 8

The principal object of my invention is therefore to provide means for xedly securing the bath tub on its wall engaging margin to the foundation members of the wall so that there can be no displacement between the wall and the tub due to settling and the like.

A further object of my invention is to provide means which will greatly lessen the labor incidental in placing a bath tub and securing it in position. Y Y

A further object of my present invention is to provide means which will prevent the canting of a bath tub with its incidental cracking of the plaster of the wall.

A further object of my present invention is to provide a support which will adequately support a bath tub or other fixture even tho the supporting ledge may be uneven or irregular in outline.

Other and more specic objects will beapparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, where- 1n Figure 1 is a face view of one of my bath tub V hangers.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 1.

Figure 3 illustrates a bath tub` in position with the wall foundation members or studding in this instance, shown in section.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View taken along the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, throughout which like reference characters indicate like parts, 6 designates the main portion of my bath tub hanger. This is normally made of strap iron or steel having the studding engaging portion 8 of considerable extent and which is in turn provided with a-plu;rality-of-nail openings 9. The-lower end of member 6 is formed with ashelf member l which should preferably slope downwardly from its outer corner after the showing ofFigure 2. This tends to urge the bath tub tight against the wall. The exact manner of forming shelf 10 is relatively unimportant. It must however be of such a construction as to providefthe-maximum strength. In the form .shown with the slanting support portion 12 and the downwardlyxsloping portion 10 terminating in a shelf support 13 disposed parallel to member 6 riveted to body 8.at 14, is .probably as inexpensive a constructionaswillbe obtained. The shelf ,support rests inthe curve .at 15V and is thus ableto provide maximum supporti One'factor which has been found to addmaterially tothe firmnessof the support` is to .have the straight portion 6,01 the bracket member bowed sovthat when it isplaced v.against a vstudding the last action .of the securing nails as theydraw the vbow out `of the piece will beto throw the outer-tip of shelf -10 upwardly, thus seating it more securely. under the lip vof the bath-tub.

. 11n vorder to providesecuring means which will prevent the lip of the tub liftingup off. shelf 10, I provide another member to my bath-tubhanger in member 16. YThis member Iprefer toprovide withadownwardly sloping extension .18 .which should preferablybe provided with a resilient .padding as to the end that-when it engages the upper edge ofthe bath tub -itwill not have any ,tendency to ,chip the-same. Cork, rubber, leather, felt .and simila1-materials-.prove quite satisfactory for use here. As a matter of convenience in installation, it has beenfound desirable to placememberl directlyon the face of member v6. 'This is not .an essentialrelationship as memberslSY mightbe .secured .directly to the studding as ismember 6. However, in order to so place .themthat they will be resistant to upward 'thrust it has .been .found desirable to roughen theinnersurface .of member 16 and to havethe same-type of roughening on member 6 so that the two will interlock. In the showing of Figure.` 2.this.roughening has been somewhat exaggerated to bring out one form which is probably the most desirable. This consists in having matching teeth on members 6 ,and 1'6 and. have them arranged `with flat or horizontal surfaces -at' 2l and sloping surfaces at 22. The teeth of member 16, of course, will be justi'the reverse -of thoseon member 6. This form represents the extremeand would naturally provide, with'the lteeth arranged as shown in Figure'2, the ymaxi- .rnumresistance'to upward thrust. In most instances'however, this added renement is not necessary, knurling theftwo surfacesfwit-h `a simi-larnknurl isV usually found to loe-,Very satisfactory. When member 16 is formed it should :be formed with thesame bow formed in the strap portion 24 as strap portion 8 of member 6 to the end-.that-aaperfectt willbe secured. Then as the nails tighten both members against the studdingthe side .displacement Aof shelf 18 being .asitrisangled will tend to tig-htenit upon Vthe upper margin of the tub.V Member .16.must of necessity be provided with a plurality of preferably slotted openings 26 so that wherever it is necessary to seat member 16 the slots will be in such a position as to uncover some of the opening 9 of member 6 so that a single nail may be driven thru both members and secure them both in position at the same time.

Method of operation When it is desired to set up a bath tub using my bath tab hangers the rst operation is to place the bath tub substantially in its final position `with just enough space between the bath tub and the studding end so that my hangers can be placed `between the same. In this installation it is onlysnecessary to consider the thickness of member 6 plus whatever bow may be in the strap portion. The bowing would never normally exceedan eighth of an inch so the bath tub can be placed substantially in its iinal position. After .the bath tub is level a plurality .of members .6- are pulledup vsnug against the under edge of the ledge 28 after the showing of Figure lthen onenail may be. placed in the same to secure it in position.

Itis in the: hanging Vof .the tub that one feature of my support means lbecomes very apparent. lThat yis the desirability of supporting the tub with a plurality of members so thateven tho the edge 28 may be quite irregular and rough, as it almost invariably is, that a secure mounting can be obtained and each member be so placed as to take its fair share of load. This is not possible in many ofthe trough-like `arrangements whichfare .supplied to support a tub in this manner. f

After a number of members. 6 are in position it is then time to securely nail them ingplace and I have found that threel of four 16d common nails `are-ample las in shear their'holding power is many timesthe possible weight of a tub plus water -andbathen If the tub installation is of the character that requires the holding down member 16 they should be applied after the first nail is putinto memberV 6.Y

.In proportioning members-6 and 16 provision should bemade that the two end openings 9 in member-6 shall be spaced sufficiently farvapart so that no matter -where member 16 is placed one or'the other of these openings will be available for the rst nail, then there'will be-no interference with the tooth engagement of members 6 and 16. In that case it would be necessary to apply both members at once `although the nail need not ybe driven home until members 16 are wedged` down` tightly against the kmargin of the tub. In this connection it is normally not neces- 7sary to .K employ member 16yin all installations. vIhey are normally intended for the pier or corner type tubs which have a tendency to cant after being in use for some time. In the recessed. tub as shown in Figure 3 it might not be necessary vto use -any `members 16. In that case they would not be used. It is normal to make the width of member-6 and 16 considerably less than the over- `all width of the studding to the endy that lathing may extend to the studding and be secured thereto and not be interfered with by my hanger. The wall covering is then placed entirely over `my hanger that is that portion above the margin of the tubfand it has been found when made -of strap-material that thereis no interference with the wall covering.

It has been foundY that if the upperend of body ,8 .is curved` outwardly as indicated at it will be comparatively easy to drive the flrst securing nail as 32 so as to slant upwardly, this tends to seat the shelf 10 tight against the tub lip 28.

Throughout my present specification I have referred to my support means as being particularly adaptable for use with bath tubs. However, it is believed to be apparent that such a support member might be used in many other instances. Any sort of plumbing xture might be so anchored. It might also be used for the anchoring of shelving and the like, for steps in stairways and many other industrial uses.

The foregoing description and the accompanying drawing are believed to clearly disclose a preferred embodiment of my invention but it will be understood that this disclosure is merely illustrative and that such changes in the invention may be made as are fairly within the scope and spirit of the following claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent ist- 1. In a hanger-support adapted for attachment to an upright structure, the combination with a bowed strap of resilient metal, means in the bowed portion of the strap for close attachment to the structure, and a supporting shelf rigid with the lower end of the strap, whereby when the strap is flexed by attachment to said structure the free end of said shelf is elevated.

2. In a hanger-support for attachment to an upright structure, the combination with a bowed strap of resilient metal having nail-holes in its bowed portion, of a shelf at the lower end of said strap comprising an infolded end having an attaching plate, and means for fastening said plate to the strap.

3. In a hanger-support for attachment to an upright structure the combination with a strap having a bottom bend and infolded end forming a shelf, said shelf terminating in an attaching plate having its end resting in said bend, and means for attaching said plate to the strap.

4. In a hanger-support for attachment to an upright structure the combination with a bowed strap of resilient metal having nail holes in its bowed portion and a supporting shelf at the lower end of the strap, of a second bowed strap and coacting means on said straps to prevent relative longitudinal movement, a bracing-foot at the lower end of the second strap, and means for fastening said straps to the structure, whereby when the support is flexed by attachment to said structure the free ends of the shelves are tilted toward one another.

5. In a hanger-support for attachment to an upright structure, the combination with a bowed strap of resilient metal having a bottom-shelf, of a second bowed strap having a bracing-foot spaced above said shelf, co-acting rack teeth on said straps to prevent longitudinal movement, and means for attaching said straps to the structure whereby when the support is flexed by attachment to the structure the free ends of the shelf and bracing-foot are tilted toward one another.

6. In a hanger-support for attachment to an upright structure, the combination with a strap having a shelf at its lower end, of a second strap having a bracing-foot spaced above the shelf, said straps having co-acting rack teeth to prevent longitudinal displacement after the support is attached to its structure, and one of said straps having nail holes registering with nail slots in the other strap.

VICTOR J. NELSON. 

